NPOV

There were dozens of things I should have done.

I should have told Will I loved him, one more time.

I should have dodged Octavian's fist. I should have seen the knife before it caught me. 

Or maybe, just maybe, when the truck appeared in the first place, I should have tugged on Bianca's sleeve and insisted we walked a little faster.  

An alarming amount of blood flowed the tiles - my blood. I was able to see the hot, sticky liquid form a pool where I was laying. I tried to stand up once or twice after Octavian had stalked away, but I wasn't able to move without feeling pain radiate from my side, powerful enough for me to worry about passing out.

What does it matter, if I'm conscious or not? I thought quietly to myself. I'm going to die. Octavian is going to kill me, or he'll save himself the trouble and wait until I bleed out.

I missed Bianca. I was tired of fighting. Surely death had to be better than living like this.

Those were darker truths I usually wasted effort on avoiding. I spent so much time drowning out reality with laughter from my friends and kisses from Will - letting those things outweigh what Octavian does to strike me down. But now, I was by myself. There was no distraction. There was nothing but a sense of my own helplessness. 

I listened to Octavian argue through walls that imprisoned me, on the phone with one of his contacts. I didn't care what he was saying. Actually, I was annoyed with him. I was slowly dying on his floor, and the most attention he spared was to drag me into the kitchen. I didn't know why, I just assumed it was so that the clean up later would be easier. Less blood would stain the carpet.

I moved my hand, which caused ripples in the crimson. Watching the surface's rings disperse had calming effect, I think. It helped me come to terms with what was going to happen. 

Dying didn't sound so bad. The worst part about it was realizing all the little things I was going to miss. People I haven't met, books that have yet to come out, unreleased albums, art. 

And, of course there was Will. 

What would happen to him?

I didn't know. I would never know if I died here. 

I wanted to be there for him. I wanted to see him fulfill his dreams, to help him if he ever needs it. I wanted to be a part of his future.

Those desires stirred in my mind, leading me to ponder the answer to a question. Which was a better way to go: letting yourself bleed to death, or making a last-ditch effort towards living?

After thinking about it for a while, I chose the second one. I mean, I was probably still going to die, but this way I can say that I at least tried. 

I moved my body in an attempt to stand. I was right about the pain, it swept over me in a horrible wave. It made me dizzy, and my vision started to go black. 

I gripped my side to apply what little pressure I could. I felt blood covering my hand. I locked my jaw, feeling tears roll down my cheeks. I couldn't cry out, because then Octavian would rush in. 

My other hand could reach the counter, and I used it to help pull myself to my feet. For a brief moment, I thought I wasn't going to be able to do it. I was in agony, after all. It hard to believe all of that blood came from me.

I took a second to recover. My breaths were shallow and labored, and there was sweat on my brow. I could hear Octavian shuffle through the trailer. 

I have to keep moving.   

I could feel myself growing weaker and weaker. I needed to get to the supply closet. I had bandages, alcohol, needles, and thread hidden away under the floorboards. I wasn't a doctor, and I certainly wasn't as good as Will, but I knew enough from past experiences to keep me alive.

I used the wall for support, leaning against it as I hobbled. It was slow, but this way was significantly less painful. 

I made it to the hallway. 

Everything was going well.... until I heard the knock on the door.

Disbelief stopped me in my tracks. I stared at the doorway. Octavian's friends usually just walk inside. Other people knew better, they knew to stay away. Even the mailman is weary, dropping packages on the end of the driveway instead of the porch.

Hearing Octavian groan from the other room sprung me into action. Everything would take a deadly turn if Octavian saw me standing in his path.I had only seconds to get out of sight.

I backed into one of the empty rooms. I left the door cracked, curiosity peaked.

Octavian came out of his room. He was wearing nothing but his boxers and a bathrobe. His hair was messed up, but his eyes looked more fiery than I had ever seen them.

I held my breath when he shuffled by my hiding spot. Luckily for me, he kept walking.

He flung open the door, and the figure who stood outside was the last person I had expected it to be.  

Will.

Oh no. 

no no no no no

This wasn't supposed to happen.

Will seemed to tense his muscles when he saw Octavian.

"What do you what?" Octavian asked. I couldn't see his face, but I bet he was sneering.

"I'm looking for a Lou Ellen, is she here?"

Will's lying was terrible. He wasn't doing a good enough job at hiding his real emotions - anger and a stark look of resentment marked the first meeting between him and a man he supposedly didn't know. I could see right through him.  

Which meant Octavian could, too.

"I don't believe you." He said simply. "What do you really want?"

I noticed that one of his hands had disappeared into the robe.

Will paled. "I-I don't-"

"You're looking for di Angelo, aren't you?" Octavian was deadly quiet. 

He must've snapped. He's never this bold, this blunt. He's over-paranoid, and this sudden change in behavior made him unnerving.

There were too many emotions that flickered across Will's face to count. Finally, he adopted a look of defiance. 

Octavian pulled a gun that was previously hidden in his garments. He hissed through gritted teeth. "Answer. The. Question."

I couldn't take it anymore. I had already seen one person I loved be shot by this man, seeing another would ruin me. I burst out from behind the door, gasping from the pain the movement brought me. "Wait!"

Octavian whirled. He pointed the gun on me now. But, when he saw my pathetic glory, he started laughing. "What would you have done? You idiot. I gave you a chance to die in peace, you should have taken it." 

I locked eyes with Will. He moved forward, but Octavian was anticipating that.

He didn't even turn around. He addressed Will, but never took his eyes off me. "Come inside and shut the door. I want you standing next to di Angelo, where I can see you. Don't try anything or I'll shoot him."

Will hesitated, but did what he what told. The click of the door shutting sounded eerie. Will moved next to me, his eyes filling with concern, maybe fear, as he took in the sight of my injuries. 

"Give me your phone." 

Will did that, too. He tossed it towards Octavian, away from us.

"What's your name?"

"Will Solace." He said truthfully. His voice sounded small.

This was all my fault. Will was in danger, and there wasn't anything I could do. I couldn't even touch him, not with a gun pointed in our direction.

"Well, Will Solace, why are you here?" He gestured between us with the weapon. "How do you two know each other?"

Will paused. "I tutor him after school."

Octavian pursed his lips. I shrunk in front of him, because I knew he noticed Will's hesitation. 

"Are you telling the truth?" Octavian asked, finger on the trigger.

"I am. Why-"

"He's my boyfriend." I interrupted.

Octavian can't be lied to, it isn't worth the risk. In this situation, the only choice I have is to tell the truth and hope he allows Will to live. 

He kept the gun in his hand, holding onto it so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He walked towards me, leaned in, and breathed in my ear. I made an effort to keep my eyes on the ground.

He whispered, but his voice was still loud enough for Will to hear. It was just another method to mock me. "I have a question for you."

I swallowed. "Yes?"

"Does Will know what all we've done together?" I could practically feel his smile. "I mean, those were pretty special moments.... I bet you haven't had sex with him."

I couldn't bear to see the looks on either of their faces.

I imagined the smirk on Octavian's. I pictured disgust on Will's.

"I haven't." I finally managed to choke out.

"Isn't that a shame?" Octavian made a tisk tisk noise. He stood, circling us like a shark. "I need to lock you two up for a few minutes, okay? Just until my associate gets here."

~

Octavian ended up putting us in the supply closet. He slammed the door shut, trapping me with Will. 

I didn't say a word to him. I immediately started pulling up the floorboards.

"What are you doing?" Will asked.

I met his question with silence.

"Do you want help?"

Silence. 

"Nico?"

Silence.

I jumped away when I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder. 

"Please don't touch me." I requested quietly.

 I felt ashamed. Will was here because of me.... and I wasn't worth it. 

A/N ~ SHOOT ME IN THE FOOT SO I KNOW ITS REAL